United We Row

The selection committee comprises USRowing staff focused on United We Row and volunteers from the Inclusion and Community Impact Committee, the Board of Directors, and the USRowing Foundation who are committed to promoting access and inclusion within the rowing community.

Applications will be evaluated using a rubric based on key criteria, including alignment with USRowing’s Organizational Objectives, Accessibility and Impact, Sustainability and Growth, Representation, and Leadership.

Grants awarded through the United We Row Impact Program will go up to $10,000, providing financial support to rowing programs committed to fostering inclusion and belonging.

Eligible programs must hold 501c3 non-profit status, be in good standing with USRowing’s policies, and demonstrate a clear commitment to increasing inclusion and belonging within the sport of rowing. Whether through new initiatives or building upon existing efforts, applicants should show their dedication and results of a more inclusive rowing community.

The application period will open in early April and will close in Early May. The application will be shared via social media, our newsletter, and the USRowing website.

Following the application and interview process, successful grant recipients will be announced by the selection committee at the beginning of June.

Yes, grant recipients will participate in quarterly grantee cohort gatherings via Zoom and engage with USRowing to share progress, exchange ideas, and receive support as they implement and grow their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

USRowing is open to supporting organizations in creative ways to help make their programs more inclusive and to bring the many benefits of rowing to all. We expect to support initiatives such as transportation, swim lessons, adaptive program support, scholarships, coaches of color, and equipment.

Yes, organizations are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years if their proposals are not selected initially.

Safe Sport Policies are required of all USRowing member organizations – and, on top of being a compliance issue, we want to partner with organizations that take the safety of athletes and their community seriously. We are interested not only in your policy, but how you put it into practice. Please review the template and adapt it for your organization here.

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore City Rowing plans to enroll 200 athletes from Baltimore, Maryland.  They will use their funding to support the development of a travel erg fleet, training and salary for their Youth Outreach Coordinator, and equipment upgrades such as new oars and PFDs to support the expansion of their middle school rowing program. 

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Rowing Union plans to enroll twenty athletes from Chicago, Illinois. They will use their funds to provide full or partial membership dues assistance to LGBTQ+ rowers facing financial hardship aiming to ensure no one is turned away due to cost. 

Evanston, Illinois

Evanston Township High School Rowing plans to enroll 100 athletes from Evanston Township High School Rowing. They will use the funds to acquire more boats, support more athletes, and expand the opportunity of regatta travel.

Detroit, Michigan

The "Motown ROWtown " program introduces rowing to Detroit kids through indoor rowing programs, with the goal of transitioning them to an on-water experience of rowing for one of the oldest crew clubs in the nation.  In compliment, to help alleviate food insecurity, "Power Row, Food to Grow" programming provides healthy foods and nutrition education to these young rowers by our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Chicago, Illinois

Lincoln Park Boat Club plans to enroll eight adaptive rowers from Chicago, Illinois. They will use the funds for staffing costs, equipment, and to support the program's growth. 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Rowing Club plans to enroll 23 athletes from different neighborhoods across Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They will use the funds to support the full operation of their STEM to Stern program, covering expenses such as STEM and swimming supplies, pool rental and associated swimming fees, and healthy snacks provided between swimming / STEM sessions and rowing practice. Funds will also be used to offer scholarships to eligible individuals. 

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Narragansett Boat Club plans to enroll six athletes from their STEM to Stern middle school program to their High School Rising Blades program. Funds will support Rising Blades expenses such as coaching, regatta, travel, and other program costs. 

Evanston, Illinois

North Channel Community Rowing plans to enroll sixty athletes from Evanston, Illinois. They will use the funds to invest in their underrepresented middle-school rowers in their program and elevate competitive opportunities for athletes, pay for a BIPOC coach or counselor, fees and transport to local regattas, scholarships to Craftsbury’s summer sculling program, and the purchase of a second launch and motor. 

Chula Vista, California

Otay Rowing Community Alliance plans to serve five athletes of color from Chula Vista, California. The funds will be used to cover team dues, uniforms, training gear, and regatta entry fees for each athlete. 

Seattle, Washington

Pocock Rowing Club plans to enroll twenty athletes from Seattle, Washington. The funds will be used to enhance the adaptive rowing partnership between Pocock Rowing Club and Seize the Oar by expanding equipment inventory, investing in coaching certifications, and swimming lessons for athletes. 

Trenton, New Jersey 

Princeton National Rowing Association plans to enroll ninety-six athletes from the Trenton, New Jersey area. The funds will be used to purchase new indoor rowing machines, provide transportation for athletes, and to hire and train coaches and staff to run programs within Trenton area schools. 

Rochester, New York

Rochester Institute of Technology plans to support seventy-two athletes on their roster. The funds will be used to purchase adaptive light signaling equipment to assist their deaf and hard of hearing athletes. 

Los Angeles, California

RowLA will enroll 20 athletes from the Los Angeles area. The funds will be used to fund scholarships for young women and fund their Erd Ed initiative which brings rowing to middle and high school girls at Title One schools. 

Arlington, Virginia 

Wakefield Crew Boosters plans to enroll 45 middle school students from the Arlington, Virginia area. Funds will be used to create financial accessibility, coaching stipends, and to support access to Anacostia Boat House. 

Buffalo, New York

West Side Rowing Club plans to enroll 45 athletes from Buffalo, New York. Funds will be used for transportation support, specialized adaptive equipment, and coaching stipends for the veteran and adaptive / para program. 

Wilmington Delaware

Wilmington Youth Rowing Association will enroll 30 new athletes from Wilmington Delaware. The funds will be used to support transportation, snacks, equipment needs, homework help, and to support the coaching staff. 

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Rowing Club is committed to welcoming athletes from all backgrounds and abilities. With this grant, they will expand programming to better support rowers with disabilities and provide travel assistance for Para rowers to compete in regattas.

Chicago, Illinois

Focused on youth development, Chicago Training Center leverages rowing to help Chicago youth realize their athletic and academic potential. The grant will fund coaching, equipment, transportation, and swimming lessons to support this mission.

Seattle, Washington

Green Lake Crew is committed to fostering an inclusive rowing community in the Seattle community. The grant will support their STEM to Stern program, which lowers costs and provides rowing experiences for young athletes in the area.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The first-ever co-ed rowing program at a Historically Black University, XULA Rowing Club will use the grant to cover regatta costs, travel for coaches, and recruitment events to help the program grow.

Oakland, California

Providing rowing opportunities to youth from all backgrounds, Oakland Strokes Rowing Club will use this grant to fund a pilot program in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District, allowing more youth to try rowing for the first time.

Chicago, Illinois

Recovery on Water supports breast cancer survivors through rowing. With this grant, the organization will expand its outreach and increase accessibility to its novice program, focusing on engaging a more diverse population of survivors.

Rockland, New York

Rockland Rowing Association uses rowing to improve lives. This grant will help expand program capacity by funding new equipment and enabling the hiring and training of two adaptive rowing coaches.

Newburgh, New York

Committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, San Miguel Academy ensures that 100% of its students row. The grant will support scholarships, transportation, and other administrative costs of running their rowing program.

Waco, Texas

Waco Rowing Center provides opportunities for local youth and aims to bridge communities through rowing. The grant will help fund a van to transport youth athletes, making the sport more accessible by breaking down transportation barriers.